Philippines Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 69: Rescue Efforts Continue in Devastated Cebu Island

Police assist injured residents as they are transported to hospital following the severe earthquake that struck the Philippines.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that hit the central Philippines has increased to at least 69, according to disaster officials, with numerous injured victims overwhelming medical facilities on Cebu island.

Injured children and adults were being treated under blue tents outside the Cebu Provincial Hospital after being evacuated as a precautionary measure due to continuous aftershocks throughout the night.

The shallow 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck late Tuesday near Bogo, a city with 90,000 residents on northern Cebu island, as reported by the US Geological Survey.

AFP journalists observed hospital staff loading deceased victims in black body bags into vehicles for transport to local mortuaries.

"Many fatalities were caused by falling debris," stated Office of Civil Defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro during a government television broadcast, confirming the death count had reached 69.

Richard Guion, with his left elbow heavily bandaged, recounted how he and his wife, who suffered a broken foot, were rescued from beneath their collapsed home's concrete wall by their 17-year-old son who was outside when the quake occurred.

"When the cement collapsed, I called out to him," said the 39-year-old Guion, expressing gratitude that his son had disregarded his instruction to go to bed early.

Bogo city reported 30 fatalities, according to civil defence official Alejandro.

In neighboring municipalities near the epicenter, San Remigio recorded 22 deaths, Medellin 10, Tabogon 5, while Sogod and Tabuelan each reported one fatality.

Bogo hospital has documented at least 186 injured individuals so far.

Teddy Fontillas, 56, told AFP he hadn't slept while assisting with transferring injured patients to other medical facilities.

"I'm exhausted, but our work is essential to help our patients," he explained.

In another part of Bogo, firefighters utilized excavators to create openings in the collapsed remains of a two-story motel, where two receptionists and a child were believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Isagani Jilig, distressed about his missing wife and child, joined approximately 100 onlookers at the rescue site.

"I'm staying at this location until I find them. As a father, I must remain strong now more than ever," the 41-year-old told AFP.

Firefighter Erwin Castaneda mentioned they had been searching for five hours but "cannot surrender."

"We're dealing with human lives. We'll do everything possible," he stated to AFP.

President Ferdinand Marcos promised rapid assistance for victims.

"I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved families," he said in a statement.

Dramatic footage recorded by Bantayan island residents near Cebu showed light bulbs in an old Catholic church swinging violently before the church's bell tower collapsed into the courtyard.

Local television broadcasts showed motorcyclists dismounting and grasping railings as a Cebu bridge shook intensely.

In Cebu city, located 100 kilometers (60 miles) south, online merchant Jayford Maranga described taking shelter under a restaurant table to avoid a shopping mall's collapsing metal ceiling.

"My friend and I were eating at the food court near closing time when suddenly it felt like the Earth stopped spinning. Then the mall began shaking," the 21-year-old told AFP.

The Cebu provincial government has requested medical volunteers through its official Facebook page to assist with earthquake aftermath operations.

Several village roads sustained damage. In Tabogon town, the road was marked with five-centimeter (two-inch) cracks, as observed by AFP journalists.

Earthquakes occur almost daily in the Philippines, which is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Most earthquakes are too weak to be felt by humans, but powerful and destructive quakes can occur unexpectedly, with no available technology to predict when or where they might strike.